Modern Hill Woman

The Old Country Church

The last hymn has been sung. The final benediction has been given. A place where families and friends gathered for weddings, funerals, revivals and Sunday school, will soon be a memory.

At the entrance was a sign that said, “Enter to learn.” As you exited the building was “Leaving to serve.” Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church has closed its doors and the old bell will ring no more.

Churches are closing at rapid numbers in the US, as congregations dwindle across the country. The number of church closings have accelerated since the pandemic, while a younger generation of Americans are abandoning religion and church-going altogether.

In 1857, Jack McClaren homesteaded 120 acres of land on Dudley Creek, four miles south of Doniphan. Two acres were set aside for a school and a church. Asa Rattertree bought the farm in 1870. A cemetery was established just up the road, a quarter of a mile south of the home site. The farm changed ownership again in 1882 when it was purchased by Harbird H. Towles.

The school became known as Towles School, and Rattertree Cemetery became Towles Cemetery.

H.H. Towles was at one time county sheriff and owned Towles Ferry which was located about three miles north of the Arkansas line on Current River.

Bethlehem Church was established in 1880 and met in Towles School until land on the other side of the creek was deeded to them in 1911 and a building was erected.

In addition to holding church in the school building, it was a community center for many years. Later, a second story was added by the Masons and it was used for lodge meetings.

With the consolidation of the county schools, Towles School was shut down.

Bethlehem Church bought the property, removed the second story and remodeled the building. The school building was larger and more practical, since you didn’t have to cross the creek to get to it. They began having church services in the new location in 1959.

The church was a part of the Cane Creek Association and saw many pastors throughout the years. The longest serving pastor was Elder Clint Colburn. He served two tenures, 1967-1975, and 1994-2001, a total of 14 years.